Description of the attraction
The Chiang Mai Ethnographic Museum tells about the culture of the hill tribes of northern Thailand, who came to these lands from Myanmar (formerly Burma) due to the difficult political situation in their homeland. The museum displays the Akha, Fox, Lahu, Karen, Khmu, Lau, Hmong, Meu and other small peoples tribes. The Ethnographic Tribal Museum was established in 1965 under the auspices of the Department of Social Welfare.
A visit to the museum is highly recommended for anyone interested in the culture and art of northern Thailand and its hill tribes. Despite the fact that villages with representatives of a unique culture are scattered throughout the Chiang Mai province, the museum provides concentrated knowledge covering all tribes and the main aspects of their life.
The Ethnographic Museum displays an exposition of folk costumes, jewelry and household items typical for each nation. The video presentation vividly shows the life of the tribes that still exist in the north of Thailand. Most of the hill tribes specialize in handicraft, examples of their work of self-woven clothing made from cotton and hemp fibers, handcrafted silver jewelry and more can also be seen in the museum. Numerous tables and diagrams in the museum tell about the peculiarities of the life of each tribe: about the agricultural calendar, the way of life, traditional ceremonies and holidays.
The museum is located in a wonderful park area with a large lake and views of the Doi Suthep and Doi Pui mountains. There is a park not far from the museum, which displays traditional tribal houses made of bamboo and banana leaves.
Unfortunately, in autumn 2012 the museum was damaged in a fire and is under reconstruction.
